The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-26
HANS ANDERSEN'S STORIES.
No. Ill.
THE CANDLES,

THE CANDLES.
There was once great wax-light and
it knew we'll enough what it was.
81 am born in wax and moulded in a
FORM" it said. 81 give more light, and
I burn longer time than any other
light My place is in the chandelier or
the silver candlestick." "That must be a
charming life" said the tallow candle
81 am only of tallow-only tallow-dip,
but then comfort myself, that is better
than to be mere taper. That is dipped
only two times; am dipped eight times
to get my thickness. To be sure, it would
be better still to be born in wax and not
in tallow; but one doesn't fix himself.
They are put in great rooms, and in glass
candlesticks. live in the kitchen-but
that is good place, too; they get up all
the fine dishes of the house there"
There is something more important
than eating" said the wax candle.
GOOD company-to see them shine,
and to shine among them yourself. There
is to be ball here this evening. l and
all my family will soon be sent for to at
tend it. Scarcely was this said when all
the wax-lights were sent for. But the
tallow candle was sent for, too. The mis-
tress took it in her delicate hand and car
ried it into the kitchen. There stood
little boy with basket of potatoes; some
apples were in the basket, too. The good
lady had given these to the little boy.
"Here is a candle for you, my little
friend" said she. "Your mother sits up
and works far into the night; she can use
this" The lady's little daughter stood
by her, and when she heard the words
star into the night" she said eagerly,
"And I'm going to sit up all night, too.
We're going to have ball, and l am to
wear big red bows for it," How her face
shone! Yes, that was happiness. No wax
light could shine like the child's eyes,
"That is blessed thing to see," thought
the tallow CANDLE II shall never forget
it; and certainly it seems to me there
can be nothing more" And so the can
die was laid in the basket, under the
cover, and the boy took it away.
"Where am going now?" thought the
candle. "I shall be with poor people;
perhaps not even have a brass CANDLE
stick; but the wax-light will be In silver,
and see the finest folk. What can be
more delightful? but this is my Total
low, not wax"
And so the candle came to the poor
widow with her three children, in little,
low-studded room, right opposite the
rich house. "God bless the good lady,
for what she gavep said the mother; sit
is a splendid candle, it will burn far into
the night" And the candle was lighted.
"Pughl' it said, "Thst was horrid
match she lighted me with. One hardly
offers such to wsx-light over in the rich
house." There the wax-lights were light
ed and shone out over the street. The
carriages rumbled up with the guests for
the ball, dressed ever so finely, and the
music began. "Now they're beginning
over there" thought the tallow candle;
and the little girls bright face is brighter
than all the wax lights. never shall see
it any more" Then the smallest of the
children in the home came-she was a
little girl-and put her arms around her
sisters neck: She had something very
important to tell and must whisper it.
"We're going to have, this evening,-just
think of itl-we're going to have-warm
potstoesl" and her face beamed with hap
piness. The candle shone right at her,
and saw pleasure as great as he saw in
the great house when the little girl said
"We are going to have ball this even,
ing, and 1 shall wear some great red
bows" is it such great thing to get
warm potatoes?" thought the candle
We'll, here is just the same JOY among
these little onesl" and it sneezed at that
that is, it sputtered, and more than
that no tallow candle could do. The
table was spread; the potatoes were eaten
Oh, how good they tastedl 1t was real
feast; and then each had an apple beside
and the smallest child said the little
verse;
NOW thanks, dear Lord, give to Thee,
That Thou again has filed me. Amen"
"Was not that said prettily? asked
the little girl. "You shouldn't ask that,
said the mother "You should only thanh
the good God, who had filed you" And
the little children gave a goodnight kiss
went to bed, and fell asleep right away
but the mother sat till far into the nigh
and sewed, to get living for them anG
for herself. From the great house the
lights shone, and the music sounded; bui